Overview
Background
I completed a PhD in Neuroscience with Jack Pettigrew (FRS) at Vision, Touch & Hearing Research Centre followed by an NHMRC Clinical Research Fellowship at Alfred Health & Monash University.
Back in QLD I'm continuing a transdisciplinary research & innovation program to Bring Discoveries of the Brain to Life!
I'm currently focused on developing novel MedTech Biotech diagnostics & therapeutics for enhancing human performance, recovery & resilience with the following projects:
[1] Precision Pain Medicine — the largest genetic study of persistent (chronic) pain in Australia, in collaboration with QIMR Berghofer & Monash University, aims to identify pharmacogenomics causal pathways for the design of personalised therapeutics & effective early intervention approaches (e.g., screening, education, prevention).
[2] Brain Switcha — A digital transdiagnostic biomarker and cloud-based large-scale population phenotyping & analytics platform to improve early intervention strategies in sleep & mental health conditions (esp. at-risk youth cohorts) and recruitment screening for Defence forces.
[3] VCS — vestibulocortical stimulation: A simple, inexpensive, non-invasive & non-pharmacologic neurotherapeutic treatment technique for fibromyalgia (with US colleagues) and other centralised pain syndromes, sleep apnoea, dementia & mental health conditions (e.g., depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder).
I also have >5 years professional services experience providing specialist research performance evaluation, consultation, reporting & training workshops that successfully delivered several major strategic priorities to a large internal & external client base — such as organisational unit leaders/managers at multiple levels (e.g., Centre/Department) and senior executive business missions for national/international strategic partnerships. This work includes mapping, monitoring & benchmarking of research capacity, capabilities/strengths, gaps & collaboration networks (e.g., clinical, corporate & government) across diverse disciplines for Annual & Septennial Departmental Reviews (e.g., patent, policy & clinical guideline citations; external stakeholder engagement including media); ARC Engagement & Impact assessments; and workforce capability development (e.g., recruitment for senior leadership positions and ranking of NHMRC/ARC funding applicants).
In particular, I enjoy meeting & connecting people with a shared vision & commitment towards building innovative & sustainable public-private partnerships to deliver meaningful solutions for the wider community.
Availability
- Dr Trung Ngo is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
-
VCS — Vestibulocortical Stimulation: Applications & mechanisms
— effectiveness of non-invasive vestibular neuromodulation protocols as a treatment for psychiatric & neurological illnesses (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, epilepsy, persistent pain) and enhancing affective-cognitive Resilience in Contested Environments #RiCE | #PrecisionPainMedicine — clinical and performance-enhancing applications of repeated VCS (#rVCS) — and the genetics & neuroimaging of its (therapeutic) response — with the aim of elucidating novel electroceutical pathways, response biomarkers and personalised treatment protocols across a spectrum psychiatric & neurological disorders | 'Electroceutomics'
-
Minimal phenotyping: Perceptual & cognitive biomarkers
— validating the clinical utility of novel visual task measures for identifying individuals at increased risk of developing mental illness (e.g., young people, at-risk/early psychosis cohorts). — multi-platform development of candidate diagnostic/endophenotype perceptual & cognitive task measures for large-scale user-friendly testing in genotyped and at-risk/youth cohorts (e.g., web, mobile, tablet, gaming, virtual reality).
-
Phylogenetics & evolution of bistable switching and VCS network
— from bacterial chemotaxis & fruit fly optomotor responses to binary decision-making in mammals (e.g., approach/avoidance choice behaviour) and disordered mood/cognitive states in humans (e.g., mania/depression, denial/insight) — investigating the comparative genetics, neural network dynamics (e.g., vestibulocortical circuitry) and molecular mechanisms of bistable (anti-phase) interhemispheric oscillations — which have been observed across a range of phenotypes (e.g., biological rhythms, autonomic functions, oculomotor activity, perception/attention, cognitive/behaviour changes) and in different species (e.g., Drosophila, sandlance, birds, cetaceans, rodents, humans) | #PrecisionSwitchMedicine
-
MedTech & Biotech platform development
— autonomic activity recording devices with real-time analysis output of endogenous rhythms and their clinical (diagnostic) utility in psychiatry, neurology & sleep medicine | #PrecisionSleepMedicine — portable/wearable devices with integrated software applications for (i) perceptual rivalry viewing (e.g., stereoscopic 3D displays), data collection & analyses; (ii) probing interhemispheric rhythms (e.g., autonomic respiratory/nasal cycle periodicity); and (iii) inducing, recording & real-time analysis output of VCS.
-
Scientometrics of research benefits
— developing quantitative indicators of interdisciplinary conceptual & empirical synthesis, scientific impact, translational & innovation outcomes using machine learning (A.I.) analytical methods.
Works
Search Professor Trung Ngo’s works on UQ eSpace
2016
Conference Publication
Association of psychiatric profile measures with binocular rivalry rate (BRR): Implications for slow BRR as an endophenotype for bipolar disorder
Ngo, T. T., Couvy-Duchesne, B., Cuéllar-Partida, G., Rentería, M. E., Colodro Conde, L., Gordon, S. D., Hansell, N. K., Law, P. C. F., Miller, S. M., Medland, S. E., Wright, M. J. and Martin, N. G. (2016). Association of psychiatric profile measures with binocular rivalry rate (BRR): Implications for slow BRR as an endophenotype for bipolar disorder. International Society for Twin Studies Satellite Meeting, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia, 20 June 2016. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/thg.2016.66
2016
Conference Publication
Examining a novel visual task for identifying individuals at increased risk of developing mental illness
Ngo, Trung T., Law, Phillip C. F., Foley, Sharon R. and Capra, Carina (2016). Examining a novel visual task for identifying individuals at increased risk of developing mental illness. BLiSS 2016 — Brisbane Life Science ECR Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 2 December 2016.
2015
Journal Article
No relationship between binocular rivalry rate and eye-movement profiles in healthy individuals: a Bayes factor analysis
Law, Phillip C. F., Paton, Bryan K., Riddiford, Jacqueline A., Gurvich, Caroline T., Ngo, Trung T. and Miller, Steven M. (2015). No relationship between binocular rivalry rate and eye-movement profiles in healthy individuals: a Bayes factor analysis. Perception, 44 (6), 643-661. doi: 10.1177/0301006615594267
2015
Conference Publication
Binocular rivalry rate as a novel candidate endophenotype for bipolar disorder
Ngo, Trung, Rentería, Miguel E., Colodro Conde, Lucia, Couvy-Duchesne, Baptiste, Cuéllar-Partida, Gabriel, Hansell, Narelle K., Medland, Sarah E., Miller, Steven M., Wright, Margaret J. and Martin, Nicholas G. (2015). Binocular rivalry rate as a novel candidate endophenotype for bipolar disorder. XXIII rd World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics (WCPG), Toronto, Canada, 16–20 October 2015. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.09.010
2015
Conference Publication
Investigating optimal stimuli for large-scale endophenotype studies of binocular rivalry rate in bipolar disorder
Ngo, T. T., Law, P. C. F. and Miller, S. M. (2015). Investigating optimal stimuli for large-scale endophenotype studies of binocular rivalry rate in bipolar disorder. Society for Mental Health Research Conference 2015, Sofitel Hotel, Brisbane, Qld, 2–4 December 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Investigating the effect of stimulus variables and eye movement profiles on binocular rivalry rate: Implications for large-scale endophenotype studies
Law, P. C. F., Riddiford, J. A., Gurvich, C. T., Ngo, T. T. and Miller, S. M. (2015). Investigating the effect of stimulus variables and eye movement profiles on binocular rivalry rate: Implications for large-scale endophenotype studies. ICON 2014: XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland, Australia, 27–31 July 2014. Switzerland: Frontiers Research Foundation. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2015.217.00291
2015
Conference Publication
Bedside neuromodulation of persistent pain and allodynia using caloric vestibular stimulation: An effectiveness trial
Ngo, T. T., Barsdell, W. N., Arnold, C. A., Chou, M. J., New, P. W., Hill, S. T., Nunn, A. K., Brown, D. J., Gibson, S. J. and Miller, S. M. (2015). Bedside neuromodulation of persistent pain and allodynia using caloric vestibular stimulation: An effectiveness trial. 22nd World Congress of Neurology, Santiago, Chile, 31 October – 5 November 2015. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.08.304
2015
Conference Publication
Effects of drift speed and stimulus size on binocular rivalry rate and mixed percept duration in healthy individuals: Implications for endophenotype studies in clinical psychiatric groups
Miller, S. M., Law, P. C. F. and Ngo, T. T. (2015). Effects of drift speed and stimulus size on binocular rivalry rate and mixed percept duration in healthy individuals: Implications for endophenotype studies in clinical psychiatric groups. Society for Neuroscience 45th Annual Meeting, Chicago, USA, 17–21 October 2015.
2013
Journal Article
Individual differences in moral behaviour: a role for response to risk and uncertainty?
Palmer, Colin J., Paton, Bryan, Ngo, Trung T., Thomson, Richard H., Hohwy, Jakob and Miller, Steven M. (2013). Individual differences in moral behaviour: a role for response to risk and uncertainty?. Neuroethics, 6 (1), 97-103. doi: 10.1007/s12152-012-9158-4
2013
Conference Publication
No relationship between binocular rivalry rate and eye movement variables
Law, P. C. F., Riddiford, J. A., Gurvich, C. T., Ngo, T. T. and Miller, S. M. (2013). No relationship between binocular rivalry rate and eye movement variables. 4th Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 28 November – 1 December 2013. Switzerland: Frontiers Research Foundation. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2013.212.00116
2013
Conference Publication
Development of a standardized system for perceptual rivalry research
Law, P. C. F., Paton, B. K., Thomson, R. H., Liu, G. B., Miller, S. M. and Ngo, T. T. (2013). Development of a standardized system for perceptual rivalry research. 33rd Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, Victoria, Australia, 3–6 February 2013. Australian Neuroscience Society.
2013
Conference Publication
A longitudinal investigation of binocular rivalry rate (BRR) in major psychotic disorders
Anderson-Schmidt, H., Gebel, L., Callista, K., Nierste, B., Glöckner, A., Budde, M., Heilbronner, U., Martin, N. G., Ngo, T. T., Miller, S. M. and Schulze, T. G. (2013). A longitudinal investigation of binocular rivalry rate (BRR) in major psychotic disorders. 21st World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics, Boston, USA, 17–21 October 2013.
2013
Conference Publication
Persistent pain and perceptual rivalry interactions: An exploratory study
Barsdell, W. N., Law, P. C. F., Gibson, S. J., Miller, S. M. and Ngo, T. T. (2013). Persistent pain and perceptual rivalry interactions: An exploratory study. 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Pain Society, Canberra, Australia, 17–20 March 2013. North Sydney, NSW Australia: Australian Society of Anaesthetists.
2012
Journal Article
Attentional switching in humans and flies: rivalry in large and miniature brains
Miller, Steven Mark, Ngo, Trung Thanh and van Swinderen, Bruno (2012). Attentional switching in humans and flies: rivalry in large and miniature brains. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 5 (JANUARY 2012) 188, 1-17. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2011.00188
2012
Conference Publication
Genetic contribution to individual variation in binocular rivalry rate, an endophenotype for bipolar disorder
Miller, S. M., Hansell, N. K., Ngo, T. T., Liu, G. B., Pettigrew, J. D., Wright, M. J. and Martin, N. G. (2012). Genetic contribution to individual variation in binocular rivalry rate, an endophenotype for bipolar disorder. 5th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, Istanbul, Turkey, 14–17 March 2012. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2012.00981.x
2011
Conference Publication
Effects of a non-invasive vestibulocortical activation technique in persistent pain states
Ngo, T. T., Barsdell, W. N., Chou, M. J., Arnold, C., Nunn, A., Hill, S. T., Brown, D. J., Gibson, S. J. and Miller, S. M. (2011). Effects of a non-invasive vestibulocortical activation technique in persistent pain states. 8th IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience, Florence, Italy, 14–18 July, 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Effects of a non-invasive vestibular-cortical activation technique on subjective ratings of persistent pain and mood
Barsdell, W. N., Ngo, T. T., Chou, M. J., Arnold, C. A., Nunn, A., Hill, S. T., Brown, D. J., Gibson, S. J. and Miller, S. M. (2011). Effects of a non-invasive vestibular-cortical activation technique on subjective ratings of persistent pain and mood. 1st Scientific Meeting of Biological Psychiatry Australia, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, 7–8 November 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Development of a binocular rivalry testing system for large-scale psychiatric and genetic studies
Law, P. C. F., Paton, B., Liu, G. B., Ngo, T. T. and Miller, S. M. (2011). Development of a binocular rivalry testing system for large-scale psychiatric and genetic studies. 1st Scientific Meeting of Biological Psychiatry Australia, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, 7–8 November 2011.
2010
Journal Article
Genetic contribution to individual variation in binocular rivalry rate
Miller, Steven M., Hansell, Narelle K., Ngo, Trung T., Liu, Guang B., Pettigrew, John D., Martin, Nicholas G. and Wright, Margaret J. (2010). Genetic contribution to individual variation in binocular rivalry rate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 107 (6), 2664-2668. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0912149107
2010
Conference Publication
Caloric vestibular stimulation reduces allodynia in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type II
Ngo, T. T., Chou, M. J., Nunn, A., Arnold, C., Brown, D. J., Gibson, S. J. and Miller, S. M. (2010). Caloric vestibular stimulation reduces allodynia in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type II. ANS/AuPS 2010 — 30th Annual Meeting of the Australian Neuroscience Society, in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary Meeting of the Australian Physiological Society, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney, 31 January – 3 February 2010. Australian Neuroscience Society.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Trung Ngo is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Honours / Masters / PhD / DPsych / DBiotech / MBBS / MD research projects
The following research projects are open to enthusiastic & driven individuals from a wide range of background disciplines/industry experience, e.g., biomedical/electrical engineering, physics, computer science, mathematics & statistics, biological/life sciences, medicine & allied health, information technology, psychology:
Minimal phenotyping: Perceptual & cognitive biomarkers
- validating the clinical utility of novel visual task measures for identifying individuals at increased risk of developing mental illness (e.g., young people, at-risk/early psychosis cohorts).
- multi-platform development of candidate diagnostic/endophenotype perceptual & cognitive task measures for large-scale user-friendly testing in genotyped and at-risk/youth cohorts (e.g., web, mobile, tablet, gaming, virtual reality).
VCS — VestibuloCortical Stimulation: Applications & mechanisms
- effectiveness of non-invasive vestibular neuromodulation protocols as a treatment for psychiatric & neurological illnesses (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, epilepsy, persistent pain) and enhancing affective-cognitive Resilience in Contested Environments #RiCE | #PrecisionPainMedicine
- clinical and performance-enhancing applications of repeated VCS (#rVCS) — and the genetics & neuroimaging of its (therapeutic) response — with the aim of elucidating novel electroceutical pathways, response biomarkers and personalised treatment protocols across a spectrum psychiatric & neurological disorders | 'Electroceutomics'
MedTech & Biotech platform development
- autonomic activity recording devices with real-time analysis output of endogenous rhythms and their clinical (diagnostic) utility in psychiatry, neurology & sleep medicine | #PrecisionSleepMedicine
- portable/wearable devices with integrated software applications for (i) perceptual rivalry viewing (e.g., stereoscopic 3D displays), data collection & analyses; (ii) probing interhemispheric rhythms (e.g., autonomic respiratory/nasal cycle periodicity); and (iii) inducing, recording & real-time analysis output of VCS.
Phylogenetics & evolution of bistable switching and VCS network
- from bacterial chemotaxis & fruit fly optomotor responses to binary decision-making in mammals (e.g., approach/avoidance choice behaviour) and disordered mood/cognitive states in humans (e.g., mania/depression, denial/insight)
- investigating the comparative genetics, neural network dynamics (e.g., vestibulocortical circuitry) and molecular mechanisms of bistable (anti-phase) interhemispheric oscillations — which have been observed across a range of phenotypes (e.g., biological rhythms, autonomic functions, oculomotor activity, perception/attention, cognitive/behaviour changes) and in different species (e.g., Drosophila, sandlance, birds, cetaceans, rodents, humans) | #PrecisionSwitchMedicine
Scientometrics of research benefits
- developing quantitative indicators of interdisciplinary conceptual & empirical synthesis, scientific impact, translational & innovation outcomes using machine learning (A.I.) analytical methods.
Media
Enquiries
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